Pea variety sv0969qh

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of the pea line designated SV0969QH. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pea line SV0969QH, and to methods for producing a pea plant produced by crossing a plant of pea line SV0969QH with itself or with another pea plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of pea line SV0969QH, including the seed, pod, and gametes of such plants.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Appl. Ser. No.61/912,003, filed Dec. 4, 2013, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of pea line SV0969QH.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include greateryield, resistance to insects or pests, tolerance to heat and drought,better agronomic quality, higher nutritional value, growth rate andfruit or pod properties.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different varieties produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many geneloci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number ofloci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically andare not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performanceunpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines are developed byselfing and selection of desired phenotypes. The new lines are evaluatedto determine which of those have commercial potential.

Pea plants are able to reproduce by self-fertilization andcross-fertilization. Thus far, however, commercial pea varieties havebeen inbred lines prepared through self fertilization (Kevin McPhee, In:Journal of New Seeds: Innovations in production, biotechnology, quality,and marketing; ISSN: 1522-886X, 6:2/3, 2005).

Peas are one of the top vegetables used for processing in the UnitedStates; with approximately 90% of the grown pea acreage used forprocessed consumption (NASS Census of Agriculture 2002). The pea is anannual cool season plant, growing best in slightly acidic soil. Manycultivars reach maturity about 60 days after planting. Pea plants canhave both low-growing and vining cultivars. The vining cultivars growthin tendrils from the leaves of the plant, which coil around availablesupports. The pea pods form at the leaf axils of the plant.

As with other legumes, pea plants are able to obtain fixed nitrogencompounds from symbiotic soil bacteria. Pea plants therefore have asubstantially reduced fertilizer requirement compared to non-leguminouscrops. This advantage adds to their commercial value, particularly inview of increasing fertilizer costs, and has generated considerableinterest in the creation of new pea plant cultivars.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a pea plant of the linedesignated SV0969QH. Also provided are pea plants having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the pea linedesignated SV0969QH. Parts of the pea plant of the present invention arealso provided, for example, including pollen, an ovule, a seed, a pod,and a cell of the plant.

The invention also concerns the seed of pea line SV0969QH. In oneembodiment, pea seed of the invention may be provided as an essentiallyhomogeneous population of pea seed of the line designated SV0969QH.Essentially homogeneous populations of seed are generally free fromsubstantial numbers of other seed. Therefore, seed of line SV0969QH maybe defined as forming at least about 97% of the total seed, including atleast about 98%, 99% or more of the seed. The population of pea seed maybe particularly defined as being essentially free from hybrid seed. Theseed population may be separately grown to provide an essentiallyhomogeneous population of pea plants designated SV0969QH.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of pea line SV0969QHcomprising an added heritable trait is provided. The heritable trait maycomprise a genetic locus that is, for example, a dominant or recessiveallele. In one embodiment of the invention, a plant of pea line SV0969QHis defined as comprising a single locus conversion. In specificembodiments of the invention, an added genetic locus confers one or moretraits such as, for example, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance,disease resistance, and modified carbohydrate metabolism. In furtherembodiments, the trait may be conferred by a naturally occurring geneintroduced into the genome of the line by backcrossing, a natural orinduced mutation, or a transgene introduced through genetictransformation techniques into the plant or a progenitor of any previousgeneration thereof. When introduced through transformation, a geneticlocus may comprise one or more genes integrated at a single chromosomallocation.

In another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a pea plant of line SV0969QH is provided. The tissue culturewill preferably be capable of regenerating pea plants capable ofexpressing all of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofthe line, and of regenerating plants having substantially the samegenotype as other plants of the line. Examples of some of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the line SV0969QHinclude those traits set forth in the tables herein. The regenerablecells in such tissue cultures may be derived, for example, from embryos,meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips,pistil, flower, seed and stalks. Still further, the present inventionprovides pea plants regenerated from a tissue culture of the invention,the plants having all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of line SV0969QH.

In yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing pea seeds, pods and plants, which processes generally comprisecrossing a first parent pea plant with a second parent pea plant,wherein at least one of the first or second parent pea plants is a plantof the line designated SV0969QH. These processes may be furtherexemplified as processes for preparing hybrid pea seed or plants,wherein a first pea plant is crossed with a second pea plant of adifferent, distinct line to provide a hybrid that has, as one of itsparents, the pea plant line SV0969QH. In these processes, crossing willresult in the production of seed. The seed production occurs regardlessof whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent pea plant, oftenin proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediated byinsect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually. Wherethe plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without the need fordirect human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent pea plants into plants that bear flowers. A third step maycomprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the male portions of flowers, (i.e., treating ormanipulating the flowers to produce an emasculated parent pea plant).Self-incompatibility systems may also be used in some hybrid crops forthe same purpose. Self-incompatible plants still shed viable pollen andcan pollinate plants of other varieties but are incapable of pollinatingthemselves or other plants of the same line.

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent pea plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent pea plants. Theharvested seed can be grown to produce a pea plant or hybrid pea plant.

The present invention also provides the pea seeds and plants produced bya process that comprises crossing a first parent pea plant with a secondparent pea plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent peaplants is a plant of the line designated SV0969QH. In one embodiment ofthe invention, pea seed and plants produced by the process are firstgeneration (F₁) hybrid pea seed and plants produced by crossing a plantin accordance with the invention with another, distinct plant. Thepresent invention further contemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybridpea plant, and methods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplaryembodiments of the invention provide an F₁ hybrid pea plant and seedthereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from line SV0969QH, the method comprising thesteps of: (a) preparing a progeny plant derived from line SV0969QH,wherein said preparing comprises crossing a plant of the line SV0969QHwith a second plant; and (b) crossing the progeny plant with itself or asecond plant to produce a seed of a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration. In further embodiments, the method may additionallycomprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of a subsequent generation fromsaid seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generation and crossing theprogeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself or a second plant;and repeating the steps for an additional 3-10 generations to produce aplant derived from line SV0969QH. The plant derived from line SV0969QHmay be an inbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossing stepsmay be defined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbredline. In the method, it may be desirable to select particular plantsresulting from step (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b)and (c). By selecting plants having one or more desirable traits, aplant derived from line SV0969QH is obtained which possesses some of thedesirable traits of the line as well as potentially other selectedtraits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing peas comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of pea line SV0969QH,wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collectingpeas from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofthe pea plant line designated SV0969QH is provided. The phrase “geneticcomplement” is used to refer to the aggregate of nucleotide sequences,the expression of which sequences defines the phenotype of, in thepresent case, a pea plant, or a cell or tissue of that plant. A geneticcomplement thus represents the genetic makeup of a cell, tissue orplant, and a hybrid genetic complement represents the genetic make up ofa hybrid cell, tissue or plant. The invention thus provides pea plantcells that have a genetic complement in accordance with the pea plantcells disclosed herein, and plants, seeds and plants containing suchcells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that line SV0969QH could be identified by any of themany well known techniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence LengthPolymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 18:65316535, 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNAAmplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized AmplifiedRegions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR),Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858,specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), andSingle Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science,280:1077-1082, 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by pea plant cells, tissues, plants,and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid genetic complement ofa pea plant of the invention with a haploid genetic complement of asecond pea plant, preferably, another, distinct pea plant. In anotheraspect, the present invention provides a pea plant regenerated from atissue culture that comprises a hybrid genetic complement of thisinvention.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of error for the device or method being employed to determinethe value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean“and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only orthe alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosuresupports a definition that refers to only alternatives and to “and/or.”When used in conjunction with the word “comprising” or other openlanguage in the claims, the words “a” and “an” denote “one or more,”unless specifically noted. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include”are open-ended linking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more ofthese verbs, such as “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,”“includes” and “including,” are also open-ended. For example, any methodthat “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limitedto possessing only those one or more steps and also covers otherunlisted steps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or“includes” one or more traits is not limited to possessing only thoseone or more traits and covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds and derivatives of pea line SV0969QH. This line shows uniformityand stability within the limits of environmental influence for thetraits described hereinafter. Pea line SV0969QH provides sufficient seedyield. By crossing with a distinct second plant, uniform F1 hybridprogeny can be obtained. The development of pea line SV0969QH can besummarized as follows.

Pea line SV0969QH, also known as “DLSC7080969”, is a mid-early maturinglarge sieve dark green pea with a normal (leafy) foliage. It wasselected based on productivity, disease resistance and enhancedsweetness. SV0969QH caries a dominant allele for resistance to race 0 ofthe downy mildew fungus, Peronospora viciae, that traces back to JI85 (awild accession of the John Innes collection), the Fw1 and Fw2 allelesfor resistance to race 1 and 2 of the wilt fungus, Fusarium oxysporumfsp pisi, and the recessive er1 allele for powdery mildew resistance. Inaddition, it shows an improved behavior to the pea root rot complex. Itsunique characteristic is the combination of these diseases resistancesand an enhanced sweetness (Sweet Savor) given by the presence of the 2alleles for wrinkled seed r and rb. The most similar variety is believedto be MONICO from Seminis which differs in its absence of resistance todowny and powdery mildew, and the presence of the Rb allele.

A. ORIGIN AND BREEDING HISTORY OF PEA LINE SV0969QH

Pea line SV0969QH is a mid-early large sieve dark green leafy varietythat was developed by pedigree selection. The cross that led to thedevelopment of SV0969QH was made between two lines of complex parentage:2513ASKRSPSk86NASBC1 seed parent and MN314xEnc as pollen parent.

Line 2513ASKRSPSk86NASBC1 was derived from different crosses bringingthe Fw1 and Fw2 alleles for resistance to race 1 and 2 of the wiltfungus Fusarium oxysporum fsp pisi, the recessive er1 allele for powderymildew resistance, a dominant allele for resistance to race 0 of thedowny mildew fungus, Peronospora viciae, that traces back to JI85 (awild accession of the John Innes collection). The purpose of this crosswas also to get the double recessive alleles r and rb, in the rightdisease resistance and plant type background.

Line MN314xEnc was derived from a cross of the Seminis variety ENCOREwith an accession from a university cooperator, MN314, selected for itsability to give a good level of resistance to the root rot complex,tested in our three root rot trialing locations in the US and onelocation in France.

The cross initiated in Year 1 was followed by seven generations untilfixation at the Seminis station, in one location (April to July) andanother Seminis station (September to December), followed by three yearsof small plots yield and adaptation trials in the main markets areas. Itwas selected based on productivity, diseases resistance, adaptation todifferent environments.

The crossing and selections that led directly to SV0969QH were made asfollows:

Season Year Description Winter 1-2 Planted ‘2513ASKRSPSk86NASBC1’ and‘MN314xEnc’ at the Seminis Breeding Station in Filer, ID. Initial crosswas made. Allowed to self- pollinate. Summer 2 F1 seeds sown. Allowed toself. Summer 3 F2 seeds sown and plants grown on wires. Single plantsselected, and tested by marker for the presence of the rb allele. Summer4 F3 seeds sown; plants of the segregating or fixed lines for therecessive rb allele are grown on wires. Lines were evaluated foragronomic characteristics followed by single plant selections on thebest lines. Winter 5-6 Three seeds of the segregating lines wereevaluated for downy mildew resistance and powdery mildew resistance.Confirmation by marker assisted selection on leaf samples foridentification of the presence of recessive rb allele. Summer 6 F4 seedssown; plants grown on wires. Lines were evaluated for agronomiccharacteristics followed by single plant selections on the best lines.Summer 7 F5 seeds sown; plants grown on wires. Lines were evaluated foragronomic characteristics followed by single plant selections on thebest lines. Summer 8 F6 seeds sown; plants grown on wires. Lines wereevaluated for agronomic characteristics followed by single plantselections on the best lines. Confirmation of the disease resistance andrecessive rb allele. In parallel, plant type was evaluated on smallplots sown directly on the ground. At that stage, lines were alsoevaluated for Root rot complex in 4 field trails (US and France) Summer9 A bulk of the F6 (F6 + 1) was evaluated for agronomic characteristicsin different places according to market goals. Confirmation of behaviorto the root rot complex as above. At that stage the variety was known asR08135. Winter  9-10 Four F7 lines were sown; plants grown on wires forhomogeneity verification at the Seminis station in Melipilla, Chile.Three single plant selections were made on each of the four lines. Seedwas harvested as bulk and transferred to the Foundation Seed departmentto begin commercial variety increases. Summer 10  The fixed line,designated as SV0969QH, was tested in many locations, and checked foryield and sieve size. Summer 11  Yield trials conducted at SeminisBreeding Stations. Adaptation trials conducted. Summer 12  Yield trialsconducted. Adaptation trials conducted. Summer 13-14 Yield trialsconducted. Adaptation trials conducted.

Selection criteria in the development of SV0969QH included productivity,resistance to Downy and Powdery mildew, improved behavior to the rootrot complex, adaptation to different environments, and sweetness of thefresh product.

Observations made during four years of field trials in Year 11-14confirm that SV0969QH is uniform and stable within commerciallyacceptable limits. As is true with other garden pea varieties, a smallpercentage of off-types can occur within commercially acceptable limitsfor almost any characteristic during the course of repeatedmultiplications. No variants are known or expected to occur.

B. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PEA LINE SV0969QH

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of pea line SV0969QH. A description of the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of pea line SV0969QH is presented inTable 1.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line SV0969QHComparison Variety - CHARACTERISTIC SV0969QH Monico 1. Type gardengarden 2. Maturity node number of first bloom 11 12 number of daysprocessing 62 62 3. Plant height (in centimeters) 44 41 number ofcentimeters taller  3 than the comparison variety height tall tallanthocyanin coloration absent [Avola, Solara] absent [Avola, Solara]stem: type of anthocyanin absent [Avola, Maro] absent [Avola, Maro]coloration of axil stem: fasciation absent [Avola, Solara] absent[Avola, Solara] stem: length (main stem medium long only; measurementshould [Calibra, Xantos] [Blauwschokker, Livia] include the first 2nodes with “scale” leaves) stem: number of nodes up to few [Smart,Zero4] few [Smart, Zero4] and including first fertile node (main stemonly; measurement should include the first 2 nodes with “scale” leaves)4. Vine habit indeterminate indeterminate branching 1-2 branches morethan 2 branches (Little Marvel) (Dwarf Gray Sugar) internodes zig zagzig zag number of nodes 17 17 stockiness heavy (Alderman) heavy(Alderman) foliage: color green [Avola, Paris, green [Avola, Paris,Progreta, Waverex] Progreta, Waverex] foliage: intensity of color medium[Lisa, Rondo] medium [Lisa, Rondo] (only varieties with foliage color:green) leaf: leaflets present [Avola, Rhea] present [Avola, Rhea] leaf:maximum number of many [Ultimo] medium [Dark Skin leaflets Perfection,Finale] leaflet: size medium [Finale] medium [Finale] leaflet: lengthmedium medium [Bohatyr, Dakota] [Bohatyr, Dakota] leaflet: width medium[Dakota, Irina] medium [Dakota, Irina] leaflet: position of broadest atmiddle or slightly at middle or slightly part towards base towards base[Nobel, Salome] [Nobel, Salome] leaflet: dentation absent or very weakweak [Snowflake] [Progreta] 5. Leaflets color medium green medium green(Thomas Laxton WR) (Thomas Laxton WR) wax medium medium molding marbled(Alaska) marbled (Alaska) number of leaflet pairs three or more twoleaflet type normal normal 6. Stipules present or lacking? presentpresent clasping or not clasping? clasping clasping marbled or notmarbled? marbled marbled size (compared with larger larger leaflets)color (compared with darker darker leaflets) color dark green dark greenRHS Color Chart number 137A 137A for color of stipules size medium[Jackpot, Misty] medium [Jackpot, Misty] comparison Comparison Variety#1 variety name: Monico stipule size: medium color: dark green RHS colorchart value: 137A stipule: length medium [Timo, Twinkle] medium [Timo,Twinkle] stipule: width medium [Timo, Twinkle] medium [Timo, Twinkle]stipule: length from axil to medium [Cabree, Okra] medium [Cabree, Okra]tip stipule: length of lobe below medium medium axil [Kahuna, Twinkie][Kahuna, Twinkie] stipule: flecking present (Avola, Maro) present(Avola, Maro) stipule: density of flecking sparse [Backgammon, sparse[Backgammon, (assessment should be made Waxwing] Waxwing] on the mainstem only; presence of flecking on any stipule on the main stem meansthat flecking is present; the density of flecking should be observed onthe part of the plant with the most flecking) petiole: length from axilto medium [Avola, Solara] medium [Avola, Solara] first leaflet ortendril (A-B) time of flowering (when early early 30% of plants have atleast [Smart, Zero4] [Smart, Zero4] one flower open) plant: maximumnumber of four or more [Arnesa, four or more [Arnesa, flowers per node(only Calibra, Survivor] Calibra, Survivor] varieties with stemfasciation absent) 7. Flower Color venation greenish greenish standardwhite white color of standard (only white [Gloton, Record] white[Gloton, Record] varieties with plant anthocyanin coloration absent)wing white white keel white white flower: width of standard medium[Bikini, Cooper] medium [Bikini, Cooper] (standard should be detachedfrom the flower and flattened on a hard, flat surface) flower: shape ofbase of moderately arched level [Markado, Solara] standard [Avola,Cooper] flower: undulation of weak [Cooper, Dakota] weak [Cooper,Dakota] standard flower: width of upper sepal broad [Kodiak] medium[Conservor] flower: shape of apex of rounded [Kodiak] rounded [Kodiak]upper sepal [refer to diagram] peduncle: length of spur short [Cabro,Kirio] short [Cabro, Kirio] (length of C-D) peduncle: length from stemmedium medium to first pod (length of A-B) [Bohatyr, Maro] [Bohatyr,Maro] peduncle: length between medium [Kirio] medium [Kirio] first andsecond pods (length of B-C) peduncle: number of bracts many [Eiffel,Goelan] absent or few [Fauvette, Kirio] 8. Pods shape straight straightend blunt (Alaska) blunt (Alaska) color medium green medium green pod:color green [Avola, Solara] green [Avola, Solara] pod: intensity ofgreen color medium medium (only varieties with pod color green) surface(smooth or rough?) smooth smooth surface (shiny or dull?) dull dullborne double & triple double & triple length 7.6 cm 8.3 cm pod: lengthshort short [Progreta, Solara] [Progreta, Solara] width (betweensutures) 13.2 mm  14.6 mm  pod: width medium [Progreta, medium[Progreta, Solara] Solara] pod: parchment entire [Avola, Solara] entire[Avola, Solara] varieties with pod: blunt [Avola, Solara] blunt [Avola,Solara] thickened wall absent: shape of distal part pod: curvatureabsent or very weak absent or very weak [Finale, Maro] [Finale, Maro]pod: number of ovules medium medium [Backgammon, Hawk] [Backgammon,Hawk] number of seeds per pod   7.9   8.6 immature seed: intensity ofmedium medium green color 9. Seeds color (95-100 green greenTenderometer) shape (dry-mature) angular flattened surface (dry-mature)wrinkled wrinkled luster (dry-mature) dull dull color pattern(dry-mature) mottled mottled primary color (dry-mature) light greenlight green secondary color (dry- medium green medium green mature)hilum color (dry-mature) tan tan cotyledon color (dry- yellow yellowmature) number of grams per 100   13.7   14.4 seeds seed: weight medium[Mammoth medium [Mammoth Melting Sugar, Phoenix] Melting Sugar, Phoenix]seed: shape rhomboid (irregularly cylindrical (compressed compressed onradicle on radicle and distal and distal surfaces; also surfaces; squareto irregularly compressed rectangular or with on abaxial surfaces)rounded sides in [Maro, Progreta] longitudinal section) [Span, Timo]seed: type of starch grains compound [Avola, Polar] compound [Avola,Polar] seed: intensity of wrinkling strong medium [Ziggy] of cotyledon[Oskar, Quad] seed: color of cotyledon green green [Avola, Solara][Avola, Solara] seed: hilum color same color as testa same color astesta [Avola, Solara] [Avola, Solara] *These are typical values. Valuesmay vary due to environment. Other values that are substantiallyequivalent are within the scope of the invention.

C. BREEDING PEA LINE SV0969QH

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for crossing thepea line SV0969QH with itself or a second plant and the seeds and plantsproduced by such methods. These methods can be used for propagation ofline SV0969QH, or can be used to produce hybrid pea seeds and the plantsgrown therefrom. Hybrid seeds are produced by crossing line SV0969QHwith second pea parent line.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing line SV0969QH followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be growninto haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In eithercase, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with theinvention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with lineSV0969QH and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny are heterozygous for locicontrolling the characteristic being transferred, but are like thesuperior parent for most or almost all other loci. The last backcrossgeneration would be selfed to give pure breeding progeny for the traitbeing transferred.

The line of the present invention is particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the line. In selecting a second plant to cross withSV0969QH for the purpose of developing novel pea lines, it willtypically be preferred to choose those plants which either themselvesexhibit one or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibitthe desired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Examples ofpotentially desirable traits include, but are not necessarily limitedto, improved resistance to viral, fungal, and bacterial pathogens,improved insect resistance, pod morphology, herbicide tolerance,environmental tolerance (e.g. tolerance to temperature, drought, andsoil conditions, such as acidity, alkalinity, and salinity), growthcharacteristics, nutritional content, taste, and texture. Improved tasteand texture applies not only to the peas themselves, but also to thepods of those varieties yielding edible pods. In peas, as in otherlegumes, taste and nutritional content are particularly affected by thesucrose and starch content.

Among fungal diseases of particular concern in peas are Ascochyla pisi,Cladosporium pisicola (leaf spot or scab), Erysiphe polygoni (powderymildew), Fusarium oxysporum (wilt), Fusarium solani (Fusarium root rot),Mycosphaerella pinodes (Mycospharella blight), Peronospora viciae (downymildew), Phythium sp. (pre emergence damping-off), Botrytis cinerea(grey mold), Aphanomyces euteiches (common root rot), Thielaviopsisbasicola (black root rot), and Sclerotina sclerotiorum (sclerotina whitemold). Pea plant viral diseases include: Bean yellow mosaic virus(BYMV), Bean leaf roll virus (BLRV), Pea Early Browning Virus (PEBV),Pea Enation Mosaic virus (PEMV), Pea Mosaic Virus (PMV), Pea seed-borneMosaic Virus (PSbMV) and Pea Streak Virus (PSV). An important bacterialdisease affecting pea plants is caused by Pseudomonas pisi (bacterialblight), (Muehlbauer et al., In: Description and culture of dry peas,USAD-ARS Agricultural Reviews and Manuals, Western Region, Calif.,37:92, 1983; Davies et al., In: Pea (Pisum sativum L.), Summerfield andRoberts (Eds.), Williams Collins Sons and Co. Ltd, UK, 147-198, 1985;van Emden et al., In: Pest, disease and weed problems in pea lentil fababean and chickpea. p., Summerfield (Ed.), Kluwer Academic Publishers,Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 519-534, 1988).

Insect pests that may be of particular concern in peas include Aphiscracivora (Groundnut aphid), Acyrthosiphon pisum (Pea aphid), Kakothripsrobustus (Pea thrips), Bruchis pisorum (Pea seed beetle), Callosobruchuschinensis (Adzuki bean seed beetle), Apion sp. (Seed weevil), Sitonalineatus (Bean weevil), Contarina pisi (Pea midge), Helicoverpa armigera(African bollworm), Diachrysia obliqua (Pod borer), Agriotis sp. (Cutworms), Cydia nigricana (Pea moth), Phytomuza horticola (Leaf minor),Heliothis Zea (American bollworm), Etiella Zinckenella (Lima bean podborer), Ophiomyia phaseoli (Bean fly), Delia platura (Bean seed fly),Tetranychus sp. (Spider mites), Pratylenchus penetrants (Root lesionnematodes), Ditylenchus dipsaci (Stem nematode), Heterodera goettingiana(Pea cyst nematode), and Meloidogyne javanica (Root knot nematode), (vanEmden et al., In: Pest, disease and weed problems in pea lentil fababean and chickpea. p., Summerfield (Ed.), Kluwer Academic Publishers,Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 519-534, 1988; Muehlbauer et al., In:Description and culture of dry peas, USAD-ARS Agricultural Reviews andManuals, Western Region, Calif., 37:92, 1983).

D. PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

Performance characteristics of the line SV0969QH were the subject of anobjective analysis of the performance traits of the line relative toother lines. The results of the analysis are presented below.

TABLE 2 Performance Characteristics For Pea Line SV0969QH Days Nber FullFrom Yield % 7.5- Variety Years Seeds Fol Fl HU Sow. Mat (qx/ha) YieldTdrTV <7.5 8.2 SV0969QH 4 wr N 731 85 7 86.5 164% 100 15%  24% SV0969QH755 87 7 102.4 154% 120 8% 16% CRESCENDO 4 wr N 685 89 2 74.3 135% 10021%  19% 707 91 2 89.9 131% 120 11%  14% PA 0826 4 2xwr N 693 90 3 74.1130% 100 21%  22% 723 92 3 87.2 124% 120 13%  15% SOMERWOOD 4 wr N 77084 9 78.6  91% 100 2%  4% 799 86 9 82.5  86% 120 1%  2% AZZARO 4 wr N779 85 9 79.4  90% 100 8% 11% 797 87 9 87.8  90% 120 4%  7% ASHTON 4 wrN 776 81 10 83.6 103% 100 3%  9% 798 82 10 91.7 104% 120 2%  5% TRISTAR= 4 wr N 779 81 10 80.1  98% 100 3%  6% BOLERO 803 83 10 88.5 100% 1202%  3% OASIS 4 wr N 812 87 12 103.8 118% 100 4%  7% 837 89 12 108.6 112%120 2%  4% PERSEPHONE 4 wr A 813 87 12 100.2 116% 100 10%  20% 833 89 11106.8 111% 120 6% 12% Tdr at 8.2- 8.75- 9.3- Col. Col. af. AIS VarietySF 8.75 9.3 10.2 >10.2 SS Thresh Fresh Blanch AIS 12% SV0969QH 38% 28%20% 11%  4% 3.00 3% 2.9 2.0 11.3 107 SV0969QH 24% 26% 25% 19%  6% 3.513% 2.9 2.0 13.3 107 CRESCENDO 40% 24% 22% 10%  3% 2.91 7% 1.6 3.5 12.596 25% 24% 30% 16%  5% 3.41 7% 1.6 3.5 15.0 96 PA 0826 42% 24% 19% 10% 4% 2.89 5% 2.6 3.3 11.3 108 28% 24% 26% 16%  7% 3.37 5% 2.6 3.3 13.2108 SOMERWOOD  6% 10% 20% 34% 31% 4.72 5% 3.8 3.3 14.1 83  3%  5% 15%36% 40% 5.05 5% 3.8 3.3 16.6 83 AZZARO 18% 18% 25% 25% 13% 3.88 6% 3.24.0 13.7 82 11% 14% 25% 32% 18% 4.27 6% 3.2 4.0 15.7 82 ASHTON 10% 14%24% 34% 18% 4.33 5% 3.4 5.2 13.9 82  7% 11% 22% 37% 25% 4.60 5% 3.4 5.216.0 82 TRISTAR =  9% 13% 21% 34% 23% 4.47 3% 4.3 4.5 13.8 84 BOLERO  5% 8% 17% 40% 31% 4.82 3% 4.3 4.5 15.9 84 OASIS 11% 13% 24% 31% 21% 4.322% 4.9 4.7 14.6 74  6%  8% 22% 36% 27% 4.69 2% 4.9 4.7 16.6 74PERSEPHONE 30% 25% 24% 15%  5% 3.31 9% 1.4 2.3 13.1 91 18% 21% 29% 23% 9% 3.77 9% 1.4 2.3 15.5 91 Nber Years = Amount of years used forcalculating the average results Seeds = Type of seeds (wr = wrinkled)Fol = type of foliage (A = Afila, Afa = faciated Afila) FullFl = amountof days between sowing and full flowering HU = Amount of heat units fromsowing to harvest at the given TDR value. Days from sow. = Amount ofdays from sowing to harvest at the given TDR value. Mat. = Maturitydifference in days in comparison with the variety AVOLA. TDR =Tenderometer (tenderness) value for which the rest of the values arecalculated. SF = “Sortes fines”; addition of the first 2 sieve size. SS= Sieve size calculation [(% of <7.5 × 1) + (% of 7.5 − 8.2) + . . . ].Thresh = Percentage of unthreshed pods in the harvest Col. Fresh = Freshproduct color rating Col. af. Blanch = after blanching color rating AIS= percentage of Alcohol insoluble solids at the given TDR Yield = yieldin quintals per hectare.

E. FURTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In certain aspects, the invention provides plants modified to include atleast a first desired heritable trait. Such plants may, in oneembodiment, be developed by a plant breeding technique calledbackcrossing, wherein essentially all of the morphological andphysiological characteristics of a variety are recovered in addition toa genetic locus transferred into the plant via the backcrossingtechnique. The term single locus converted plant as used herein refersto those pea plants which are developed by a plant breeding techniquecalled backcrossing, wherein essentially all of the desiredmorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the varietyvia the backcrossing technique.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parental peaplant which contributes the locus for the desired characteristic istermed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers to thefact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcrossprotocol and therefore does not recur. The parental pea plant to whichthe locus or loci from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred is knownas the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in thebackcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a pea plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the desired morphological andphysiological characteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered inthe converted plant, in addition to the single transferred locus fromthe nonrecurrent parent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny pea plants of a backcross in which SV0969QHis the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desired trait from thenon-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of pea line SV0969QH as determined at the 5%significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions.

Pea varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

With the development of molecular markers associated with particulartraits, it is possible to add additional traits into an established germline, such as represented here, with the end result being substantiallythe same base germplasm with the addition of a new trait or traits.Molecular breeding, as described in Moose and Mumm, 2008 (PlantPhysiology, 147: 969-977), for example, and elsewhere, provides amechanism for integrating single or multiple traits or QTL into an eliteline. This molecular breeding-facilitated movement of a trait or traitsinto an elite line may encompass incorporation of a particular genomicfragment associated with a particular trait of interest into the eliteline by the mechanism of identification of the integrated genomicfragment with the use of flanking or associated marker assays. In theembodiment represented here, one, two, three or four genomic loci, forexample, may be integrated into an elite line via this methodology. Whenthis elite line containing the additional loci is further crossed withanother parental elite line to produce hybrid offspring, it is possibleto then incorporate at least eight separate additional loci into thehybrid. These additional loci may confer, for example, such traits as adisease resistance or a fruit quality trait. In one embodiment, eachlocus may confer a separate trait. In another embodiment, loci may needto be homozygous and exist in each parent line to confer a trait in thehybrid. In yet another embodiment, multiple loci may be combined toconfer a single robust phenotype of a desired trait.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,male sterility, herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal,or viral disease, insect resistance, restoration of male fertility,modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, and enhanced nutritionalquality. These comprise genes generally inherited through the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. An example of a dominant trait is the downy mildewresistance trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are sprayed with downy mildew spores prior to the backcrossing.The spraying eliminates any plants which do not have the desired downymildew resistance characteristic, and only those plants which have thedowny mildew resistance gene are used in the subsequent backcross. Thisprocess is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of pea plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent on thephenotype of a plant and instead can be based on genetic investigations.For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic marker which is closelygenetically linked to a trait of interest. One of these markers can beused to identify the presence or absence of a trait in the offspring ofa particular cross, and can be used in selection of progeny forcontinued breeding. This technique is commonly referred to as markerassisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or other assaywhich is able to identify the relative presence or absence of a trait ofinterest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes. Proceduresfor marker assisted selection applicable to the breeding of pea are wellknown in the art. Such methods will be of particular utility in the caseof recessive traits and variable phenotypes, or where conventionalassays may be more expensive, time consuming or otherwisedisadvantageous. Types of genetic markers which could be used inaccordance with the invention include, but are not necessarily limitedto, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al.,Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:65316535, 1990), Randomly Amplified PolymorphicDNAs (RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), SequenceCharacterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed PolymeraseChain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs)(EP 534 858, specifically incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety), and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al.,Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

F. PLANTS DERIVED FROM PEA LINE SV0969QH BY GENETIC ENGINEERING

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, can also be introduced by genetic transformationtechniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be used to insert aselected transgene into the pea line of the invention or may,alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can beintroduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plants,including pea plants, are well known to those of skill in the art (see,e.g., Schroeder et al., Plant Physiol. 101(3): 751-757, 1993).Techniques which may be employed for the genetic transformation of peaplants include, but are not limited to, electroporation, microprojectilebombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and direct DNA uptakeby protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

A particularly efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segmentsto plant cells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particlesare coated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species. An illustrativeembodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plant cells bybombardment is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, which can beused to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through a screen, suchas a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surface covered with targetpea cells. The screen disperses the particles so that they are notdelivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3(7):637-642, 1985). Moreover, recenttechnological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated genetransfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites inthe vectors to facilitate the construction of vectors capable ofexpressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described haveconvenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and apolyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptidecoding genes. Additionally, Agrobacterium containing both armed anddisarmed Ti genes can be used for transformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., Bio/Technology, 3:629-635, 1985; U.S.Pat. No. 5,563,055). Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is aparticularly beneficial method for producing recombinant pea-plants.Transformed pea plants may be obtained by incubating pea explantmaterial with Agrobacterium containing the DNA sequence of interest(U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,635; U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,693).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985; Omirulleh et al.,Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993; Fromm et al., Nature,312:791-793, 1986; Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986;Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988). Transformation of plants andexpression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994), and Ellul et al. (Theor. Appl.Genet., 107:462-469, 2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for pea plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985),including monocots (see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591, 1990;Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990); a tandemlyduplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35S promoter(P-e35S) the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., Plant Physiol.,88:547, 1988), the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., Plant Cell,1:977, 1989); and the figwort mosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619 and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter(P-eFMV) where the promoter sequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem,the cauliflower mosaic virus 19S promoter, a sugarcane bacilliform viruspromoter, a commelina yellow mottle virus promoter, and other plant DNAvirus promoters known to express in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can beused for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells, includingpromoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., Plant Physiol., 88:965,1988), (2) light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter, Kuhlemeier et al., PlantCell, 1:471, 1989; maize rbcS promoter, Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell,3:997, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-binding protein promoter, Simpson etal., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985), (3) hormones, such as abscisic acid(Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989), (4) wounding (e.g., wunl,Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989); or (5) chemicals such asmethyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It may also beadvantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal et al.,EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987; Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988;Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to the pea lines of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a pea plant according to the invention.Non-limiting examples of particular genes and corresponding phenotypesone may choose to introduce into a pea plant include one or more genesfor insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) gene, pesttolerance such as genes for fungal disease control, herbicide tolerancesuch as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, and genes for qualityimprovements such as yield, nutritional enhancements, environmental orstress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plant physiology, growth,development, morphology or plant product(s). For example, structuralgenes would include any gene that confers insect tolerance including butnot limited to a Bacillus insect control protein gene as described in WO99/31248, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, U.S. Pat.No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, herein incorporated by reference ittheir entirety. In another embodiment, the structural gene can confertolerance to the herbicide glyphosate as conferred by genes including,but not limited to Agrobacterium strain CP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPSgene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,435, hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety, or glyphosate oxidoreductasegene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,175, herein incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991). The RNA could also be acatalytic RNA molecule (i.e., a ribozyme) engineered to cleave a desiredendogenous mRNA product (see for example, Gibson and Shillito, Mol.Biotech., 7:125, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces a protein or mRNAwhich expresses a phenotype or morphology change of interest is usefulfor the practice of the present invention.

G. DEFINITIONS

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) color chart value: The RHS color chartis a standardized reference which allows accurate identification of anycolor. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue, brightnessand saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS color chart byidentifying the group name, sheet number and letter, e.g., Yellow-OrangeGroup 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing wherein essentially allof the morphological and physiological characteristics of an inbred arerecovered in addition to the characteristics conferred by the singlelocus transferred into the inbred via the backcrossing technique. By“essentially all,” it is meant that all of the characteristics of aplant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in the sameenvironment and save for the converted locus, other than an occasionalvariant trait that might arise during backcrossing or directintroduction of a transgene. A single locus may comprise one gene, or inthe case of transgenic plants, one or more transgenes integrated intothe host genome at a single site (locus).

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a pea plant by transformation.

H. DEPOSIT INFORMATION

A deposit of pea line SV0969QH, disclosed above and recited in theclaims, has been made with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC),10801 University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The date of depositwas Nov. 12, 2013. The accession number for those deposited seeds of pealine SV0969QH is ATCC Accession No. PTA-120708. Upon issuance of apatent, all restrictions upon the deposit will be removed, and thedeposit is intended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R.§1.801-1.809. The deposit will be maintained in the depository for aperiod of 30 years, or 5 years after the last request, or for theeffective life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replacedif necessary during that period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A seed of pea line SV0969QH, a sample of seed ofsaid line having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-120708.2. A plant of pea line SV0969QH, a sample of seed of said line havingbeen deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-120708.
 3. A plant partof the plant of claim
 2. 4. The plant part of claim 3, wherein said partis selected from the group consisting of a pod, pollen, an ovule and acell.
 5. A pea plant, or a part thereof, having all the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of the pea plant of claim
 2. 6. Atissue culture of regenerable cells of pea line SV0969QH, a sample ofseed of said line having been deposited under ATCC Accession NumberPTA-120708.
 7. The tissue culture according to claim 6, comprising cellsor protoplasts from a plant part selected from the group consisting ofembryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, roottips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks.
 8. A pea plant regenerated fromthe tissue culture of claim 6, wherein the regenerated plant expressesall of the physiological and morphological characteristics of pea lineSV0969QH, a sample of seed of said line having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-120708.
 9. A method of producing seed, comprisingcrossing the plant of claim 2 with itself or a second plant.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the plant of pea line SV0969QH is the femaleparent.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the plant of pea lineSV0969QH is the male parent.
 12. An F1 hybrid seed produced by themethod of claim
 9. 13. An F1 hybrid plant produced by growing the seedof claim
 12. 14. A method for producing a seed of a lineSV0969QH-derived pea plant comprising the steps of: (a) crossing a peaplant of line SV0969QH with a second pea plant, a sample of seed of saidline having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-120708; and(b) allowing seed of a SV0969QH-derived pea plant to form.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising the steps of: (c) crossing aplant grown from said SV0969QH-derived pea seed with itself or a secondpea plant to yield additional SV0969QH-derived pea seed; (d) growingsaid additional SV0969QH-derived pea seed of step (c) to yieldadditional SV0969QH-derived pea plants; and (e) repeating the crossingand growing steps of (c) and (d) to generate further SV0969QH-derivedpea plants.
 16. A method of vegetatively propagating a plant of pea lineSV0969QH comprising the steps of: (a) collecting tissue capable of beingpropagated from a plant of pea line SV0969QH, a sample of seed of saidline having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-120708; (b)cultivating said tissue to obtain proliferated shoots; and (c) rootingsaid proliferated shoots to obtain rooted plantlets.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, further comprising growing plants from said rooted plantlets.18. A method of introducing a desired trait into pea line SV0969QHcomprising: (a) crossing a plant of line SV0969QH with a second peaplant that comprises a desired trait to produce F1 progeny, a sample ofseed of said line SV0969QH having been deposited under ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-120708; (b) selecting an F1 progeny that comprises thedesired trait; (c) crossing the selected F1 progeny with a plant of lineSV0969QH to produce backcross progeny; (d) selecting backcross progenycomprising the desired trait and the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristic of pea line SV0969QH; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d)three or more times to produce selected fourth or higher backcrossprogeny that comprise the desired trait and essentially all of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of pea line SV0969QHwhen grown in the same environmental conditions.
 19. A pea plantproduced by the method of claim
 18. 20. A seed that produces the plantof claim
 19. 21. A method of producing a plant of pea line SV0969QHcomprising an added desired trait, the method comprising introducing atransgene conferring the desired trait into a plant of pea lineSV0969QH, a sample of seed of said line SV0969QH having been depositedunder ATCC Accession Number PTA-120708.
 22. A pea plant produced by themethod of claim
 21. 23. A seed that produces the plant of claim
 22. 24.A method of producing peas comprising: (a) obtaining the plant of claim2, wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collectingpeas from the plant.